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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Weed free feeds, USA

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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: Una Smith <una.smith@att.net>
  • To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Weed free feeds, USA
  • Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 09:44:07 -0600

Irv Lichtenstein wrote:
> If official
>acts are exempt, does that mean the patrol horses in those areas are exempt?

The executive order applies only to the Forest Service and specifies official
rescue duties, so likely would not apply to routine patrols, nor to searches
where there is no expectation of rescue (eg, an evidence search), nor perhaps
to a body recovery. This is a case where standard practice has yet to be set.
We may be in a position to help set that standard practice.


There's a point of discussion here that may need clarification. I write
"weed free" and Irv writes "seed free". Weed free and seed free are largely
separate sets.

Weed free feed is feed that originates in a field that has been inspected
and certified as being weed free *that season*. I know a grower in Colorado,
a guy who manages rotation of "resting" crops on potato fields, who has huge
crops of weed free hay in some years, but in other years he says the hay is
good only for silage or composting.

Seed free feed is feed that has been harvested before feed crop has set seed,
or that has been sterilized (usually by heating, fermentation, or both). On
some lands, eg in designated wilderness areas, resource managers try to stop
importation of agricultural species, including high-value cultivated grasses
and alfalfa. On these lands, resource managers do indeed want seed free feed.

As Kate Beardsley has said, both weed free and seed free requirements
usually are met by pellet feeds, but not by cube feeds. For some photos of
cubes and pellets, see this:
http://horses.about.com/od/feedingyourhorse/ig/Horse-Feed-Gallery/


Irv, how do you all handle the restrictions at the locations you mention?

Una




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